
We are glad you are here, but sorry for the reason.
The mission of The Compassionate Friends is to assist families in the positive resolution of grief following the death of a child, sibling, or grandchild of ANY age and to provide information to help others be supportive.
You need not walk alone through your grief journey.
We are The Compassionate Friends and are here to walk with you.
Please feel free to browse our website for more information about our local chapter and the National Association of The Compassionate Friends.
Please click More in the top right menu to view Candle Lighting's from 2020 forward.
The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting on the 2nd Sunday in December unites family and
friends around the globe in lighting candles for one hour to honor the memories of the sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and grandchildren who left too soon. Hundreds of thousands of people commemorate and honor the memory of all children gone too soon.
Now believed to be the largest mass candle lighting on the globe, the annual Worldwide Candle Lighting
(WCL), a gift to the bereavement community from The Compassionate Friends, creates a virtual 24-hour
wave of light as it moves from time zone to time zone. TCF’s WCL started in the United States in 1997 as a
small internet observance and has since swelled in numbers as word has spread throughout the world of
the remembrance. Hundreds of formal candle lighting events are held, and thousands of informal candle
lighting's are conducted in homes, as families gather in quiet remembrance of children who have died and
will never be forgotten.
Our chapter participates in this event uniting families and friends everywhere with a beautiful program of
music, readings, and lighting candles to honor the memories of our children, siblings and grandchildren.
Afterwards, we’ll gather for food and fellowship. Bringing a dish to share is not required, but is very much
appreciated!
In addition to our in-person program a recording of the candle lighting is posted to this website.
4417 Bigger Road, Kettering, Ohio 45440, United States
937.640.2621 PO Box 292112 Kettering OH 45429 miamivalleytcf@gmail.com
Copyright © 2025 Miami Valley Compassionate Friends - All Rights Reserved.